Phonics plays an integral part of our curriculum, ensuring all children in EYFS and KS1 are taught to read as soon as possible. The Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised scheme supports children in recognising all 44 phonemes in the English alphabetical code and are taught how to blend these sounds in order to read alternative graphemes. We ensure that these lessons begin as soon as children enter Reception. Taking a huge priority, phonics is taught for thirty minutes each day with additional interventions for children in the lowest 20% of their cohort.
Children are expected to complete Phases 2, 3 and 4 in Reception, Phase 5 in Year 1 and a Spelling Scheme in Year 2, where they will finish the programme.
Daily phonics lessons in Reception and Year 1
We teach phonics for 30 minutes a day. In Reception, we build from 10-minute
lessons, with additional daily oral blending games, to the full-length lesson as quickly
as possible. Each Friday, we review the week’s teaching to help children become
fluent readers.
Children make a strong start in Reception: teaching begins in Week 2 of the Autumn
term.
We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised expectations of progress:
Children in Reception are taught to read and spell words using Phase 2 and 3
GPCs, and words with adjacent consonants (Phase 4) with fluency and
accuracy.
Children in Year 1 review Phase 3 and 4 and are taught to read and spell
words using Phase 5 GPCs with fluency and accuracy.
Throughout the year we complete half-termly assessments to ensure children are placed in the correct groups and are steadily progressing.
For more parent information about the Phonics programme we follow, visit:
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised
